Animal Health trust's 2012 Equestrian Award Winners announced

More than 400 people from all walks of the equestrian world attended the Animal Health Trust’s United Kingdom Equestrian Awards at the Lancaster London on Thursday 1 November, to celebrate equestrian excellence.

The Awards ceremony, hosted by Mr Mike Tucker and Miss Zoey Bird,proudly honoured the fantastic Olympic and Paralympic success of 2012, in both hosting and competing in the games.

Awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal in seven categories – Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Racing, Voluntary Service, Equine Vet of the Year and the Animal Health Trust Special Award.

The Animal Health Trust proudly honoured all of the Olympic and Paralympic teams with awards for their outstanding achievements this summer.

A number of the Olympic and Paralympic riders were present to collect these including: Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin, Zara Phillips, Mary King, Natasha Baker and Sophie Christiansen, as well as owners and trainers.

Special attention was paid to the Olympic Games Makers who made the Olympic and Paralympic games possible as the South Essex Insurance Brokers Voluntary Service Award was awarded to all of the dedicated volunteers, collected by Sarah Phillips from British Riding Clubs on behalf of all the Games Makers.

PetPlan Equine Vet of the Year awarded to:Keith Chandler, a senior partner at Kessock Equine Vets in Inverness, for his personal dedication, knowledge, pragmatic and caring approach and his practice’s outstanding customer service.

Animal Health Trust Special Award awarded to:Lord Harris of Peckham, to celebrate a lifetime of outstanding achievement and contribution to equestrianism.

Desi Dillingham, Chair of the Equestrian Awards Organising Committee, said: “The Equestrian Awards is a fantastic showcase of the equestrian talent in the UK. 2012 has been a wonderful year for our equestrian sports and the awards really do celebrate all of the incredible achievements”.

“With so many outstanding performances throughout London 2012 to celebrate, the awards evening could have spanned a month and we still wouldn’t have enough time to give everyone their due credit! We really are so proud of our equestrian athletes and it’s a privilege to honour them in this way.

“We’re also particularly grateful to all those who sponsored either an award or part of the evening and helped us raise vital funds which will enable the AHT to continue its very important work.”

The Animal Health Trust is a veterinary charity, based in Suffolk, which offers clinical referral services and diagnostic testing for horses, dogs and cats in East Anglia, across the UK and internationally. Through its research programmes it develops new diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to help thousands of animals.